Parachute-borne flare device

ABSTRACT

There is shown a parachute-borne flare device which is airlifted by a suitable carrier such as a projectile, rocket, etc., and which is automatically ejected from its carrier at a selected point of the trajectory and readied operational for illuminating a specific target such as a ground area. The flare device includes guide vanes which divide the flare emanating at the downwardly facing end of the flare composition body after ignition thereof into several spaced apart partial flares. These partial flares present an approximately linear pattern toward the ground area to be illuminated and are also substantially freed of darkening due to soot and smoke by air flows through the gaps between the partial flares.

United States Patent Simmons July 8, 1975 [54] PARACHUTE-BORNE FLAREDEVICE 3,670,657 6/1972 Evans l02/87 ,7 O, 67 3 I973 M h dt IO 34. [75]Inventor: Bjiirn Herman Olof Simmons, 3 2 I I am ar 2/ 3 Karlskoga swadeP ry E mi e Robert F Stahl rima xa n r Assigneel Akiiebolagel BOfOfS,Sweden Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hane, Baxley & Spiecens [22] Filed: Aug.27, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 391,760 [57] ABSTRACT There is shown aparachute-borne flare device which [30] Forelgn Apphcmwn pnonty Data isair-lifted by a suitable carrier such as a projectile, 3, I969 Swede"-l6623/69 rocket, etc., and which is automatically ejected from RelatedU S A "cam," Data its carrier at a selected point of the trajectory andpp readied operational for illuminating a specific. target [63] fgy 'T'of such as a ground area. The flare device includes guide a an onedvanes which divide the flare emanating at the downwardly facing end ofthe flare composition body after {2 S agg ignition thereof into severalspaced apart partial flares. These partial flares present anapproximately near [58] Field 9 pattern toward the ground area to beilluminated and are also substantially freed of darkening due to sootand smoke by air flows through the gaps between the [56] ReferencesCited partial flares UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,327,372 1/1920 Bessiere 10227 Clam, 14 Drawing F'gum 3,036,451 5/1962 Miller l02/37.8 3,l27,8384/l964 Moratti et al..1....... 244/317 3,l40,583 7/l964 Hopper 244/322 XSHEET FIGSB FIG. 5A

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1 s ck PARACHUTE-BORNE FLARE DEVICE This invention is acontinuation-impart application of my copending application Ser. No.93,995, filed Dec. 1, I970, now abandoned.

The invention relates to an illuminating device, and more particularly,to a parachute-borne flare device for illuminating a selected targetsuch as a ground area when and while the flare device floats toward theground suspended from its parachute.

BACKGROUND Parachute-borne flare devices of the general kind abovereferred to are generally air-lifted by a suitable carrier such as aprojectile fired from a gun barrel such as a rifled gun barrel; they mayalso be air-lifted by a rocket or other suitable carrier such as a bombor dropped from an airplane. When the projectile, etc., used forair-lifting the flare device reaches a predetermined point of itstrajectory, the flare assembly is ejected as a unit from the projectileby a self-activating explosive charge. Other self-activating charges oralso hot gases generated upon expulsion of the flare device causereadying of the expelled flare device unit, that is, the parachute ofthe device is released for unfolding; the flare composition body isignited at its end facing the area to be illuminated and componentsinitially used for holding together the flare device and protecting thesame but now constituting debris are removed out of the path of the nowparachute-supported flare device.

The afore-referred to operations for air-lifting and readying theparachute-borne flare device are presumed to be conventional; they arewell known to experts in the art and there are numerous U.S. patents andpatent applications and also foreign patents and patent applicationswhich describe means suitable for the purpose. The present inventionstarts at the point at which the flare is readied for operation, thatis, the flare composition is suspended from its parachute and ignited atits downwardly facing end.

A problem common to all flare devices ofthe general kind above referredto is to generate a light output which illuminates a selected targetarea as large as possible, is substantially uniform and lasts areasonable long period of time. This problem entails that it isdesirable to obtain a maximal light output from a given mass of flarecomposition material, as obviously this mass is limited by thecapability of accommodating it in a projectile, etc., which in turn iscontrolled by the caliber of the barrel from which it is fired.

There are known and widely used flare devices which burn with a singleflare. Such devices have various disadvantages such as flickering of thesingle flare due to the unavoidable flow of wind relative to the flare.Moreover, smoke tends to form on the frontal side of the flare and sootparticles also tend to blur the brightness of the produced light.Accordingly, the adequately illuminated target area is bound to becomparatively small; further, and even more important is that theintensity of the illumination is far from uniform, which makes difficultobservation of the target area.

There are also known flare devices which divide the flare compositionbody into several lengthwise sections which are initially held togetherbut are freed for radially spreading upon release of the flare devicefrom its carrier such as a projectile. Each one of the sections isignited so that a pattern of several flares is formed; such multiplesection flare devices produce a broader illumination pattern than asingle flare device. Moreover, the total light output is betterstabilized than with a single flare device, thereby correspondinglyincreasing the illumination of the target area. However, they are rathercomplex and hence expensive.

The illumination of the target area as obtained from the flare devicetends to become unstable due to the formation of smoke and flickering ofthe flare. Under favorable circumstances, an improvement may be obtained by a normally occurring essentially conical swinging of the bodyand its parachute. Due to such swinging the flare body is slanted sothat its length axis in relation to a vertical line defines an anglewhich is usually between lO and 40. A relative wind towards the flare ascaused by the fall of the flare body toward the target area may therebycause a deflection of the flare so that the same has a light-givingfrontal area. The relative wind may also sweep along this frontal areaand thus blow away smoke and soot particles which are unavoidablyproduced during the burning of the flare body. The illumination of thetarget area may thus become better than before. However, the swinging ofthe body and parachute also causes the illumination of the target areato vary continuously as the lightproducing frontal area due to theswinging continuously shifted its spatial position and to a certainextent its shape. Hence, there are rapidly varying shady areas in thetarget area which makes the observations of objects within the targetarea difficult. These inconveniences cannot be eliminated by increasingthe light intensity as the moving shadows then will become deeper.

In addition to these irregularities and instabilities parachute-borneflare devices as already known have the disadvantage that it is notpossible to increase the intensity of light in the target area in atechnicallyeconomic way by increasing the diameter of the flarecomposition body. Practical tests have shown that the specific intensityof light (candela/cm burning area) is probably most favorable when thecomposition body diameters are 60-70 mm. With larger diameters thespecific intensity of light becomes lower. in other words, an increaseof the composition body diameter does not produce an equivalent increasein the intensity of light. As an example of the unfavorable specificintensity of light obtained by increasing diameter it may be mentionedthat an increase of the diameter of the composition body by results inan increase of the burning area by l%, but an increase of the lightintensity by only Hence, even if the total light intensity is increaseddue to the larger diameter of the composition body, the specificintensity of light of the illuminating body only becomes 65% as comparedwith the composition body having the smaller diameter.

This phenomenon is probably due to the fact that the light-givingfrontal area of the flare cannot be increased very much by increasingthe diameter and that the soot particles generated in the flare arepreventing the light output from other parts of the flare to reach thetarget area.

THE INVENTION It is a broad object of the invention to provide a noveland improved parachute-borne flare device which produces a substantiallyuniform illumination of a selected target area and generates a maximallight intensity for a given flare composition mass.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved parachute-borne flare device in which a single flare emanatingfrom a flare composition body is divided into several spaced apartpartial flares and deflected so that an approximately planar or linearfrontal light pattern is directed toward the target area therebyproducing a maximal illuminated area.

Still another more specific object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved parachute-borne flare device in which the relativepositions of partial flares are such that the flares are separated bygaps permitting passage of air flows whereby smoke and soot particlesare removed at least to a very substantial degree from the frontalpattern of the partial flares.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention solves this problem. Theimproved light output of a flare device according to the invention isobtained by an extremely careful combination of a number of parameterswhich occur at the composition body when it is burning. The mostimportant parameters are the angles of the partial flares, the relativewind towards the partial flares, the shape of the partial flares andtherefore to a certain extent the number of partial flares and finallythe gas velocity of the partial flares which depends on the burningvelocity of the composition body and on the contracting of the partialflares.

The dividing of the single flare emanating from the composition bodywhen burning in a number of partial flares is obtained by suitablyshaped and disposed guide vanes.

The relative wind problem is resolved by the fall speed of the body andits parachute. This fall speed is determined principally by theparachute. The relative wind imparts to the partial flares a deflectionso that each partial flare will have a light-giving frontal area whichpoints toward the target area.

The shapes of the partial flares must be so designed so that gaps areformed between each two adjacent partial flares. Each partial flareshould also have a relatively large discharging area which substantiallycorresponds to the percentage share of the total burning area of theilluminating body, that is, when the number of partial flares is five,each partial flare will display an area that is near 20% of the totalburning area of the body. If the partial flare is contracted, thecontraction reflects the area of the body. The need for gaps alsoentails that a small number of partial flares appears to be moreadvantageous than a large number of partial flares as there is a riskthat the partial flares will flow together when a large number ofpartial flares is provided. Four or five partial flares have been foundto be the most advantageous number. The available burning area is, ofcourse, also important with respect to the number of partial flares.With a larger burning area of, for example 60 mm and more, a highernumber of partial flares may be practical.

The gas velocity that is developed at the flare composition body inconjunction with the relative wind also afiects the deflection of thepartial flares. The higher gas velocity and the higher relative wind,the smaller the partial flares may be.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, severalembodiments of the invention are shown by way of example and not by wayof limitation.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational diagrammatic view of aparachute-borne flare device in its operational position;

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of a modification of a flare deviceaccording to the invention in its operational position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is an elevational perspective view of a further modification ofthe flare device according to the invention, partly in section;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of the flare device accordingto FIG. 6 showing the pattern formed by the partial flares;

FIG. 4B is a diagrammatic top view of the guide vanes assembly as usedin the flare device of FIG. 6',

FIG. 4C is a diagrammatic side view of the guide vanes as used in FIG.6;

FIG. 5 is an elevational perspective fragmentary view of a furthermodification of a flare device according to the invention;

FIG. 5A is a bottom view of the flare device according to FIG. 7;

FIG. SE is a sectional side view of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 6 is an elevational perspective fragmentary detail view, partly insection, of a flare device according to the invention, the guide vanesof the device being shown in their folded or inactive position;

FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the guide vanes in theirunfolded or active position;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the illumination effect of a flare deviceaccording to the invention in comparison with that of a conventionalflare device of the parachute-borne type; and

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the light distribution as obtained on aselected target area with a flare device according to the invention incomparison with that obtained with a conventional flare device of theparachute-borne type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS As heretofore pointed out,parachute-borne flare devices of the general kind herein referred to areusually air-lifted by a carrier such as a projectile fired from a gunbarrel such as a rifled barrel. After ejection of the flare device as aunit from the projectile at a preselected point of the trajectorythereof, steps are initiated generally by the use of self-detonatingcharges to effect unfolding of the parachute of the device, and finally,ignition of the flare composition body at the end thereof facing theground.

The present invention is not concerned with the airlifting of the flaredevice, but it presumes the lifting of the device and the readyingthereof for operation to be conventional. In other words, the inventionstarts with the condition in which the device is shown in figures suchas FIG. 1.

Referring now to the figures more in detail, and first to FIG. I, theflare device as shown in the figure, comprises a combustible flarecomposition body made of a conventional material. Many such compositionsare known to the experts in the art and the composition itself does notconstitute part of the invention. The composition is encased by acanister 13 of elongate preferably cylindrical configuration. Thecanister serves not only to hold the material of the body together, butalso to assure that the body burns at its downwardly end face only. Forthis purpose, the canister is closed at the operational upper end butleaves open and thus uncovered the operational downward facing area ofthe composition. According to FIG. 1, the flare composition in itscanister is supported by a parachute only the guy wires 2 of which areshown in FIG. I.

As has been previously pointed out, a principal object of the inventionis to illuminate a selected ground area with sufficient and reasonablyuniform light intensity; obviously, it is also desirable to make thearea thus illuminated as large as possible. For this purpose, a flaredividing means 12 is provided. This dividing means is secured to theopen end of canister 13 by suitable fastening means 14 such as spokes14a joined by a central boss 14b.

The flare divider comprises several guide vanes 12a of a generallytruncated pyramidical configuration and disposed symmetrically withrespect to the center axis of the flare composition body. Theconfiguration and disposition of the guide vanes will be described morein detail in connection with the subsequent figures. It suffices tostate in connection with FIG. 1 that the guide vanes divide and deflectthe flare emanating from the exposed area of the flare composition uponignition thereof into four circumferentially spaced apart partialflares.

The possibility of folding down the guide vanes until the flare deviceis ejected from a projectile in which it is air-lifted is often of greatpractical importance as the length of the projectile and thus also thespace available for accommodating the flare assembly is controlled bythe caliber of the barrel used for air-lifting the flare device.

As it is now apparent, the partial flares due to the deflection actionof the guide vanes will be separated by gaps, thereby permitting passageof air between the partial flares. The partial flares due to theconfiguration of the vanes and the slow downward drifting of the flaredevice tend to assume the generally planar configuration indicated inFIG. 1. As may be noted from this figure, the partial flares have asubstantially linear extension within a plane approximately normal tothe center axis 4 of the device. As a result, the illumination angle asit is indicated by lines 6 and 7, is a very wide one and thus theilluminated target area is a correspondingly large one. Moreover, due tothe passage of air between the individual flares, smoke and sootparticles will be forced upwardly, as it is indicated at 30, thusavoiding at least to a substantial extent blurring of the illuminationof the ground area.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, these figures illustrate the stabilizationof the relative locations of the partial flare as it is achieved by thestructure according to the invention. There is shown a canister 23including the combustile flare composition and mounting a dividingdevice 24 which divides the flare as it emanates from the previouslydescribed exposed bottom area of the composition into four partialflares 25, only two of which are shown in FIG. 2 for the sake of clarityof illustration, while FIG. 3 shows all four partial flares. The flaresare deflected by the guide vanes 24a to define acute angles B relativeto the center axis 27 of the composition body when and while they areclose to the root of the partial flares namely, the burning surface ofthe composition body a and are then further deflected to define asubstantially right-angle relative to said center axis as it is shown inFIG. 2. The specific configuration of the guide vanes are shown more indetail in subsequent figures and described in detail in connectiontherewith.

FIG. 3 clearly shows gas channels in which the gas velocity is presumedto be of a value suitable for the most efficient burning action, as hasbeen previously indicated. The gas velocity is indicated by dashedarrows 26. Moreover, the shapes of the partial flares near the rootsthereof are defined in FIG. 5 by an angle 71 which is an angle in theprojection of the actual partial flare in a plane transverse of thelengthwise axis 27. An angle 'y2 indicates the gaps between the partialflares. There is further symbolically indicated a wind flow 28 which isdue to the gradual floating of the parachute and the flare bodysuspended therefrom toward the ground. The gas flows and the air flowscause a deflection of the partial flares which results in the frontalflare areas 250. These are the areas which produce the desiredillumination of the selected ground area. As a result, the frontal areaswhich are the most crucial ones as to the output of light are thuscleared of smoke and soot particles. Tests have shown that the totaloutput in light intensity is very high and also substantially stable.Suitable values of the actual parameters in the combination of gasvelocity as obtained by the distribution of the deflecting guide vanesare given in the subsequent tabulation. In this tabulation one of theparameters is chosen to be a constant and therefore is not listed in thetabulation, namely, the gas velocity. Suitable values for the gasvelocity are between 5 to 50 m/sec in the listed examples. The bodydiameter of the composition has some effect in the examples as to theselected number of partial flares and it is for that reason that theparameters for the number of partial flares have been included in thetabulation.

It is apparent that combinations in accordance with the invention can beobtained by other values of the parameter than are shown in thetabulation; generally, the relatively small angle of the partial flaresproduces the most advantageous combinations because the other parameterscan then be kept at more normal values. Thus, the angles between 5 to 50are convenient, and particularly angles between 10 to 25 are desirable.

FIG. 7 shows the specific light intensity of the burning area relativeto the diameter of the burning area. Curve [9 indicates the lightintensity I/cm for a flare device with a single, that is, undividedflare that is, of a prior art flare. As shown, the specific lightintensity decreases sharply with increasing diameter of the flare body.Curve 20 shows the light intensity I for a prior art undivided flarewhich is obtained with an arrangement of partial flares according to theinvention. Curves 19a and 200 show the corresponding values for partialor divided flares according to the invention. As will be noted, thedecline of the light intensity is much smaller for curve 20a than it isfor curve 20.

The graph of FIG. 8 shows the variation in time of the light intensityat a given point on the target area. Curve 2] refers to flare deviceshaving a single, that is, undivided flare, while curve 22 represents thelight intensity at a given point of the target area which is obtainedwith a flare device having partial flares according to the invention. Asis readily apparent, curve 21 represents a much more uniform lightintensity than does curve 22.

FIG. 4 shows a flare device with three guide vanes 31 which aresymetrically, that is, circumferentially spaced about the center axis ofa generally cylindrical canister 32 containing the flare compositionbody. Vanes 31 are preferably integral with a base plate 33 which inturn is secured to canister 32 at the open end thereof by suitablefastening means such as a flange 32a.

It has been found that a fairly small number of partial flares such asthree to five is preferable to a large number due to the importance ofmaintaining sufficiently wide gaps or spaces between the partial flares.

It has also been found advantageous to cover the composition body 34with an inner covering 35 as can be seen in FIG. 4 through the cutout inthe wall of canister 32. This covering serves to limit the burning ofthe composition body when ignited to its exposed bottom surface that is,the surface which faces the ground when the flare body is in itsoperational position. For igniting the exposed area of the combinationbody, suitable and conventional ignition means are used. Such ignitionmeans are diagrammatically indicated as comprising a plate 36 having aplurality of openings 37 and communicating with a gap 38 left betweencovering plate 36 and the thus exposed annular area of the compositionbody. A spacing ring 39 may be placed between the base plate 33 andcovering plate 36. The ignition means further comprise a cap 40including a priming charge and a delay means, if desired. They may beignited by a suitable self-activating charge when the device is expelledfrom the projectile or rocket and which it is air-lifted, as previouslydescribed. The charge when activated ignites the flare at least over alarge part of its exposed area via gap 38. As the details of theignition means are not essential for the purpose of the invention theyare hence not described in detail. In fact, in some instances they canbe entirely omitted, in which case ignition is effected by hot gasesgenerated by the ejecting means used for ejecting the flare device as aunit from the projectile. In any event, ignition of the composition bodyis presumed to be effected by conventional means.

FIG. 4A discloses the distribution of the partial flares as it isobtained by using guide vanes 31, as shown more in detail in FIG. 4B.FIG. 4A also shows the frontal areas as are forced upon by theconfiguration of guide vanes 31. As can best be seen in FIG. 4, theseguide vanes have a concavely curved surface with respect to the centeraxis of the flare composition body and are generally shovel-shaped. Theyare preferably integral with base plate 33, but may also be securedthereto by suitable fastening means.

FIG. 4C shows guide vanes of more tapered configuration than is shown inFIG. 43. They should also be visualized as having a convexly curvedsurface relative to the center axis of the composition body.

The guide vanes 31 are shown in detail in FIG. 48. They are taperedtoward their free ends and they are so curved and slanted relative tobase plate 33 that they divide the initial single flare into partialflares and then deflect these partial flares into positions in whichthey define an angle relative to the center axis of the composition body(The angle [3 of FIG. 2), an angle representing the width of the partialflares near the roots thereof (The angle -yl of FIG. 3) and a separationangle (The angle 72 of FIG. 3) to permit airflows between the partialflares. Such air flows prevent accumulation of soot particles and smoke,thus assuring that the useful light output of the partial flares is at amaximum.

FIG. 4A clearly indicates the frontal areas 310 of the partial flares,that is, the areas which generate the il- Iumination of the selectedground area.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplification of a flare device according to theinvention in which a flare divider 42 divides the initial single flare43 emitted by the exposed area of the composition body upon ignitionthereof into four partial flares 430. Only three of these partial flaresare shown in FIG. 5 for reasons of clarification of illustration. Theflare divider is secured to canister 32 by flange 320 on the containerand includes guide vanes 44 best shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The vanes aremounted on a ring 45 which has a right-angle crosssection as it is bestseen in FIG. 5B. The vanes are socured to this ring by spokes 46 whichare joined at their inner free end by a boss member 47. This boss memberalso serves to mount ignition means (not shown), which as previouslydescribed are self-activated at a preselected point of time during theunfolding of the flare device after ejection thereof from the projectileor other carrier used for air-lifting the flare devices.

As can best be seen in FIG. 5A, the guide vanes in FIGS. 5, 5A and 5Bare concavely curved with respect to the center axis of canister 32 ofthe composition body therein while the guide vanes 31 in FIGS. 4, 4A, 4Band 4C are convexly curved to this axis; otherwise, the configuration ofvanes 44 is also so that the vanes initially deflect the partial flaresradially outwardly and also so that gaps are maintained between thepartial flares for permitting air-flows between the partial flares ashereinbefore described.

FIGS. 6 and 6A show a further exemplification of the flare device. Theflare device according to FIGS. 6 and 6A is similar in principle tothose previously described, and accordingly the same reference numeralsare used to identify corresponding components.

Mounting of the guide vanes 48 is effected in the flare device of FIGS.6 and 6A by means of a boss member 51. This boss member is held byspokes 50 which in turn are secured to a ring member 49. This ringmember has a right-angle cross-section and is in turn secured to ring 39at the open end of canister 32 as previously described. Morespecifically, the vanes are attached to the boss member by springloadedhinges 52 and have a concave surface relative to the center axis ofcanister 32 similar to the vanes of FIG. 5. The deflection andseparation actions of the vanes are as previously described.

As is clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the spokes are tapered at theirends 500 joined to ring member 49 so that the transverse width of thespokes at the tapered end thereof substantially matches the cross-wisewidth of ring member 40.

The vanes are shown in FIG. 6 in the position in which they are foldedback upon the exposed surface of the composition body. The portion ofthe vanes protruding above the rim of ring member 49 facilitates suchfolding back of the vanes, and also protects the same when they are inthe folded position. The folded position of the vanes is the one inwhich they are until the flare device is readied for operation, aspreviously described when the flare device has reached the stage inwhich the vanes are free to be moved by the bias action of the hingesinto the operational position of FIG. 6A. This figure does not show thepartial flares, but it is evident from the previous description that thepartial flares are deflected to occupy the positions shown for instancein FIG. 5.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certainnow preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A parachute-borne flare device, said device comprising:

an elongate body of a combustile flare composition;

a covering means covering the side wall and one end of said body tolimit burning of the body to the area thereof exposed at the other endof the covering means, said one end of the covering being arranged forattachment to a parachute and the exposed area being the bottom area inthe operational position of the device;

flare dividing means supported by the covering means at said exposedarea of the body of the flare composition for dividing a single flaregenerated upon ignition of the body at said exposed area into partialflares, said dividing means including guide vanes downwardly extendingin relation to said bottom area and circumferentially spaced about thecenter axis of said body, said vanes being canted radially outwardly andcurved to deflect partial flares radially outwardly to define a firstangle B of to 50 to said center axis and also to define a second angle'y2 deflecting said partial flares into angular positions relative toeach other and defining a gap between each two partial flares to allowpassage of air therebetween and further defining an approximately linearpattern approximately normal to said center axis.

2. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said flare dividingmeans comprise at least three spaced apart guide vanes to divide theflare into at least three partial flares.

3. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said flare dividingmeans comprise mounting means securing the same to the covering means atthe open end thereof, said mounting means including a ring membersecured to the covering means at the open end thereof and spokesextending radially inwardly from said ring member, each of said spokesmounting one of said guide vanes.

4. The flare device according to claim 3 wherein a central boss memberjoins said spokes at the inner ends thereof, said spokes and said bossmember being disposed substantially in a common plane and constituting abase member including an opening for each partial flare at the open endof the covering means.

5. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said dividing meansinclude a boss member, and an ignition means for igniting thecomposition body at the uncovered area thereof is supported by said bossmember.

6. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said flare dividingmeans comprise a base member including an opening for each of saidpartial flares, said base member being secured to the covering means atthe open end thereof and overlying said exposed area of the compositionbody, and wherein each of said guide vanes is substantially shovelshapedhaving a wall portion concavely curved relative to said center axis.said vanes being tapered toward their free ends.

7. The flare device according to claim 6 wherein each of said guidevanes overlies approximately one-half of the base member opening for therespective partial flare.

8. The flare device according to claim 6 wherein said flare dividingmeans comprise mounting means securing the same to the covering means atthe open end thereof, said mounting means including a ring membersecured to the covering means at the open end thereof and spokesextending radially inwardly from said ring member. each of said spokesmounting one of said guide vanes, and wherein the circumferentialdistance between the corners of the guide vanes at the edges thereofattached to the base member is larger than the outer radius of said ringmember, the crosswise width of the spokes at the points of attachmentthereof to said ring member being about equal to the cross-sectionalwidth of the ring member.

9. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said flare dividingmeans comprise mounting means securing the same to the covering means atthe open end thereof, said mounting means including a ring membersecured to the covering means at the open end thereof and spokesextending radially inwardly from said ring, each of said spokes mountingone of said guide vanes, said ring member having a right-anglecrosssection, and wherein the cross-sectional width of said spokes isdisposed in planes normal to the plane of the ring member.

10. The flare device according to claim 9 wherein each guide vanecomprises a flare deflecting wall portion concavely curved relative tothe center axis of said composition body, and each vane is inwardlytapered toward its end attached to the respective spoke.

11. The flare device according to claim 7 wherein each of said guidevanes is outwardly slanted relative to said boss member so as to coveronly part of the opening for the respective partial flare.

12. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said flare dividingmeans comprises mounting means including springloaded hinge meanshinging said guide vanes to the mounting means, said hinge means biasingthe vanes from an initial inactive position substantially parallel tosaid exposed area of the composition body toward an elevated activeposition.

13. The flare device according to claim 12 wherein said mounting meansfurther comprise a centrally positioned boss member, said spring-loadedhinges being supported by said boss member and in turn supporting saidguide vanes.

14. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein vanes aresymmetrically disposed about the center axis of said body. each of saidvanes having a curved configuration and a flat base edge, said base edgebeing secured to said cover plate and the vanes facing each other withtheir convexly curved side.

16. The flare device according to claim 15 wherein said vanes aresubstantially shovel-shapedv

1. A parachute-borne flare device, said device comprising: an elongatebody of a combustile flare composition; a covering means covering theside wall and one end of said body to limit burning of the body to thearea thereof exposed at the other end of the covering means, said oneend of the covering being arranged for attachment to a parachute and theexposed area being the bottom area in the operational position of thedevice; flare dividing means supported by the covering means at saidexposed area of the body of the flare composition for dividing a singleflare generated upon ignition of the body at said exposed area intopartial flares, said dividing means including guide vanes downwardlyextending in relation to said bottom area and circumferentially spacedabout the center axis of said body, said vanes being canted radiallyoutwardly and curved to deflect partial flares radially outwardly todefine a first angle Beta of 5* to 50* to said center axis and also todefine a second angle gamma 2 deflecting said partial flares intoangular positions relative to each other and defining a gap between eachtwo partial flares to allow passage of air therebetween and furtherdefining an approximately linear pattern approximately normal to saidcenter axis.
 2. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said flaredividing means comprise at least three spaced apart guide vanes todivide the flare into at least three partial flares.
 3. The flare deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said flare dividing means compRise mountingmeans securing the same to the covering means at the open end thereof,said mounting means including a ring member secured to the coveringmeans at the open end thereof and spokes extending radially inwardlyfrom said ring member, each of said spokes mounting one of said guidevanes.
 4. The flare device according to claim 3 wherein a central bossmember joins said spokes at the inner ends thereof, said spokes and saidboss member being disposed substantially in a common plane andconstituting a base member including an opening for each partial flareat the open end of the covering means.
 5. The flare device according toclaim 1 wherein said dividing means include a boss member, and anignition means for igniting the composition body at the uncovered areathereof is supported by said boss member.
 6. The flare device accordingto claim 1 wherein said flare dividing means comprise a base memberincluding an opening for each of said partial flares, said base memberbeing secured to the covering means at the open end thereof andoverlying said exposed area of the composition body, and wherein each ofsaid guide vanes is substantially shovelshaped having a wall portionconcavely curved relative to said center axis, said vanes being taperedtoward their free ends.
 7. The flare device according to claim 6 whereineach of said guide vanes overlies approximately one-half of the basemember opening for the respective partial flare.
 8. The flare deviceaccording to claim 6 wherein said flare dividing means comprise mountingmeans securing the same to the covering means at the open end thereof,said mounting means including a ring member secured to the coveringmeans at the open end thereof and spokes extending radially inwardlyfrom said ring member, each of said spokes mounting one of said guidevanes, and wherein the circumferential distance between the corners ofthe guide vanes at the edges thereof attached to the base member islarger than the outer radius of said ring member, the crosswise width ofthe spokes at the points of attachment thereof to said ring member beingabout equal to the cross-sectional width of the ring member.
 9. Theflare device according to claim 1 wherein said flare dividing meanscomprise mounting means securing the same to the covering means at theopen end thereof, said mounting means including a ring member secured tothe covering means at the open end thereof and spokes extending radiallyinwardly from said ring, each of said spokes mounting one of said guidevanes, said ring member having a right-angle crosssection, and whereinthe cross-sectional width of said spokes is disposed in planes normal tothe plane of the ring member.
 10. The flare device according to claim 9wherein each guide vane comprises a flare deflecting wall portionconcavely curved relative to the center axis of said composition body,and each vane is inwardly tapered toward its end attached to therespective spoke.
 11. The flare device according to claim 7 wherein eachof said guide vanes is outwardly slanted relative to said boss member soas to cover only part of the opening for the respective partial flare.12. The flare device according to claim 1 wherein said flare dividingmeans comprises mounting means including springloaded hinge meanshinging said guide vanes to the mounting means, said hinge means biasingthe vanes from an initial inactive position substantially parallel tosaid exposed area of the composition body toward an elevated activeposition.
 13. The flare device according to claim 12 wherein saidmounting means further comprise a centrally positioned boss member, saidspring-loaded hinges being supported by said boss member and in turnsupporting said guide vanes.
 14. The flare device according to claim 1wherein said flare dividing means comprise mounting means including aring member fixedly secured to the open end of the covering means and aflange member securing the guide vanes to the ring member.
 15. The flaRedevice according to claim 1 wherein a perforated cover plate covers saidother end of the elongate composition body, and wherein said guide vanesare symmetrically disposed about the center axis of said body, each ofsaid vanes having a curved configuration and a flat base edge, said baseedge being secured to said cover plate and the vanes facing each otherwith their convexly curved side.
 16. The flare device according to claim15 wherein said vanes are substantially shovel-shaped.